India, Dec. 8 -- Last week, New Delhi was enveloped, as usual, in a terrible smog. Last week, the city was shrouded by a surreal sense of romantic eco-diplomacy nostalgia, which paraded as modern-day realpolitik. Informed pundits on TV channels squawked in hoarse voices about a new world order, even as their throats and lungs were impacted by the severe air pollution. Still, the mood seemed ecstatic and jubilant. The reason: During the grand visit of Vladimir Putin, India and Russia reaffirmed their long and historical ties, which seemed to grow higher than Mt Everest, and deeper than the Indian Ocean.

One was left with no doubts that the two nations, beginning from the times when Russia was a much-larger Soviet Union, enjoy enduring rel...